There’s a long, cold distance between the credits rolling on the seasonal Downton Abbey special and the necessary nonsense of New Year’s Eve, but for those lucky enough to remain in Manchester, or at least those able to run back to it in the dead of night, there awaits plenty of opportunity for partying in the otherwise dead zone waiting for 2015 to arrive and for you all your dreams and wishes to become a reality, naturally. From the surely final ever run of shows at Warehouse Project’s original Store Street abode, to the annual Electric Chair End of Year Riot, and Sankeys’ seasonal Warriors blow out. Let the indulgence begin!
Viva Warriors - Sankeys, Manchester, Friday 26th December, 11PM, £20
Known for decades worth of extensive, thumping and deeply tribal sets, Lawler always draws a huge crowd in Manchester, and if he can’t draw them out in the bloat of Boxing Day, then nobody can. Joining him are superb producer and tasteful house and techno selector Deetron, whose remixes of the varied likes of George Fitzgerald, Vakula and FCL have defined many a dancefloor over the past few years. Further pumping tech house abounds on each floor from the likes of Detlef, Anek, Freeman and Farrely to name but a few.
Fac51 The Hacienda - Warehouse Project, Friday 26th December, 930PM, £25
Manchester’s rich dance music heritage get it’s yearly throwback and massive blowout at The Warehouse Project, with the leading lights of The Hacienda bumping heads once more for a two room bonanza of classic house anthems and contemporary acid. Living club legend David Morales leads the charge, A Guy Called Gerald has confirmed a special live set (wonder what he’ll play…), plus Graeme Park and Mike Pickering going B2B, Marshall Jefferson and the ever reliable, forward thinking Justin Robertson too.
The following evening of the 27th, WHP also host Seth Troxler B2B with The Martinez Brothers all night long, with resident Krysko on form with Sub Club’s Harri and Domenic in Room 2. Unfortunately, albeit unsurprisingly, tickets are currently sold out.
Electric Chair End of Year Riot - Fac 251, Saturday 27th December
Meanwhile, back in Fac’s original home, now coded 251 (it’s a long story, but we’re sure you can find someone in a smoking area somewhere to fill you in), and in slightly more intimate environments, Manchester’s much beloved Elektric Chair night makes it’s annual reappearance on the scene, reuniting old clubbers with a fresher breed, and staying true to it’s rave ideals with an impressive line-up of friends old and new. One of the world’s most celebrated underground jocks, Francois K, understandably gets all night to himself one of three floors, playing deep disco and house all night long. More frantic rhythms come courtesy of Paul Woolford and Maurice Fulton, two international names unfamiliar to the city and still doing stellar work as ever, while Mark Seven, Jason Boardman and founders The Unabombers will be keeping it groovy in the corners. Always a sell out of friendly faces.